It had been months since I last spoke to his parents but tonight I called to make sure that they knew what seemed to be happening. His father, Armando, answered the phone and told me that Vicky Cruz from the New York City Anti-Violence Project had reached out to him but that he was still unsure what was happening. He said that Eddie's mom, Leonor, was currently in Colombia. He said that he was feeling just like I was, not sure how to react to the news, and that his hands were trembling. I asked him to call me if he needed anything should reporters start calling.

Then I called Marlene (pictured here with Eddie) and she was also at a loss of words. Her immediate reaction was that she didn't know if this would simply end up opening some of the old wounds left on his friends and family in the wake of Eddie's death. Ultimately though she told me that, if anything, an arrest and possible conviction might bring a sense of closure.

I also called my boyfriend Raul, who organized the parade of angels for the Colombian Lesbian and Gay Association on that day in June of 2002 and he was thrilled.

Finally, I also called my friend Jimmy Van Bramer, who was running for City Council the same year that Eddie was attacked and told him the news. He was equally stunned that an arrest could happen five years down the line.

Obviously, a man is considered innocent until proven guilty in court, but it certainly feels as if efforts to keep Eddie's memory alive led to an arrest. Let's hope that justice is finally served.

Enormous - and I mean tremendous thanks - must go to members of the New York Police Department's investigative unit as well as the hate-crimes unit who kept the case open all these years. In particular Detective Kevin Czartoryski and retired officer Vanessa Ferro.

To the many community members and leaders who participated in rallies and marches.

3 comments:

Hola Andres - thank you for writing this article and keeping us informed about the final outcome. You certainly touched a nerve in terms of what can happen to any of us, to any of our brothers or sisters in our community.